Brick-cutter.



PATENTBD JUNE 14 1904.

- B. B. BEGHTEL.

BRICK CUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 29. 1m.

3 SHEETS-433E111 1- 10 MODEL.

PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

B. E. BEGHTEL.

BRICK CUTTER. APPLIGATIOI rmm JULY 29. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

J PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

' B. E. BEOHTEL.

BRICK CUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2a. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

I win! ill Ell: 1

E fl UNITED STATE Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

BRICK-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,608, dated June 14,1904.

Application filed July 29,1903. Serial No. 167,455. (No model.)

To all whom it. neayponcern:

Be it known that I, BYRON ERB BnoH'rnL, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Waterloo, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Cutters; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart-to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in automaticcutting-tables or improvements of what might be termed cutters employedin connection with brick, tile, or the like machinery; and the objectsand nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilledin the art in the light of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, which show a construction merely as an example from amongothers within the spirit and scope of my invention for purposes ofexplanation.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved brick or tilecutter exceedingly durable and effective in construction and which willoperate easily when propelled by the bar of clay projected or expressedfrom the die of a continuous-bar brick or tile machine.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and incombinations and arrangements of parts more fully and particularly setforth and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the brickcutter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, a bar of claybeing shown moving from a die onto and moving the endless tableorcarrier, a brick being shown as just cut from the bar of clay by therotating cutting-reel. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken throughthe cutting-reel and endless table or carrier. Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken vertically through the cutting-reel and showing the curvedguide track or stop of one of the uprights and engaged by the rollers ofthe radially or diametrically movable arms or frames carrying thecutting wires and guide-wheels. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view ofthe under sides of two adjacent sections or blocks of the endless tableor carrier.

together.

In the drawings, (4 represents the parallel vertical uprights or postsat the front or receiving end of the frame of the machine.

6 represents the two parallel uprights or posts at the rear or dischargeend of the frame of the machine.

The posts a 6 of each pair are rigidly secured together at their lowerends by the cross bars or pieces 0. Each cross-piece 0 between its endsis provided with an upwardly-projecting support (Z, to the top edge ofwhich the horizontal parallel lower tracks or rails e are secured. Theserails extend from one support (Z to the other support (Z, and the railsa usually overhang or project horizontally beyond the vertical end edgesof the supports (Z, so as to leave spaces between the outer verticaledges of the rails e and the inner faces of the adjacent uprights orposts of the frame. The rails can be formed of metal or, if desired, canbe composed of wooden bars provided with metal facings along their topsides to form the tracks on which the rollers of the endless tabletravel, as hereinafter described.

f represents the parallel horizontal upper rails of the machine securedto and carried by the end posts or uprights and projecting forwardlyandrearwardly beyond said end posts. The roller-engaging surfaces ortracks of said upper rails f can be formed by the longitudinalangle-bars f, having the outer vertical upturned longitudinal flanges.At both ends of the machine the top rails f terminate in theapproximately semicircular end pieces 9, projecting at the ends of themachine and having the curved outer edges forming continuations of thetracks of the top rails. The curved approximately semicircular trackedges of the end pieces g are located in the same vertical planes as thetrack-surfaces on the respective sides of the machine of the upper railsf and the lower rails a. The endless traveling table or carrier movesover and is supported by these various track-surfaces, which cause thetable to form the parallel horizontal upper and lower plies and the twocurved end plies between the horizontal plies.

The table consists of a plurality of similar sections hinged orotherwise pivotally joined Each section consists of a flat table orcarrier.

approximately oblong or rectangular block;

plate, or board 72/. These plates are hinged together at their adjoiningedges by suitable hinges or pivotal connections,although, as at presentadvised by experiment, I prefer to couple the plates together at theirends by hinges consisting of two leaves vi, rigidly secured to thebottom faces or sides of the plates, each leaf consisting of a cross-barand lateral arms rigid therewith and projecting therefrom, the two setsof arms of each hinge being loosely coupled together by a pivot bolt orpin 1', arranged transversely of the table and at its ends projectingbeyond said lateral arms to receive the supporting-rollers 7r of the Inthe construction illustrated each plate or section h is provided withtwo supporting rollers 7r, arranged in recesses in the opposite sideedges thereof and at the rear end thereof. The pivot rod or bolt 7' ofeach plate 71 is so arranged, preferably, that the rim or tread of therollers is slightly in rear of or flush with the end edge of the plate.The rims or treads of the rollcrs project above and below'the flat facesof the plates 72 and said rollers travel on the upper, lower, and curvedend tracks and support and carry the said plates and parts attachedthereto. The hinge connections between the plates h are preferably soarranged that when the plates are traveling along the upper tracks ftheir end edges will practically engage, and

thus form the top ply of the table or carrier as a long fiat horizontaltable onto which the bar of clay Z passes from the die m of thecontinuous-bar brick-machine. The continuous forward or feedmg movementof this bar of clay resting on the table causes the table to movetherewith, whereby the table is actuated or driven by the movement ofthe bar of clay. The pivotal joints between the plates 72. arepreferably located a slight distance in advance of the rear end edge ofeach plate that is, the axis of each hinge connection between two platesis located beneath the rear end of the forward plate and a distance inadvance of the adjacent end edges of said plates. Hence thesupporting-rollers 74 are removed from the planes of the meeting edgesof'the plates, and when the plates at the front ends of the machinestart down along the curved tracks the adjacent meeting end edges of theplates will separate a considerable distance and afford ample space forthe entrance of the cutting-wires hereinafter referred to and for theoutward movement of said wires without interference with the adjacentedges of the clay bar or the severed portions thereof.

Each plate 72. is provided with the cuttingreel-actuating strikers oruprights w, usually two in number, extending upwardly from the oppositeside edges of the plate and about midway the length thereof. In theexample illustrated each pair of uprights n. is composed of a stiffmetal bar bent approximately U-shaped, with the cross or transverseportion a thereof extending transversely across and secured to the underface of the plate and with the ends a extending up at each edge of theplate and at right angles thereto. 1f desired, the central portion ofthe transverse part 12' of the bar can be deflected laterally, about asshown, to increase the stiffness and rigidity of the uprights n againstyielding movement when operating the cutting-reel. The upper portions ofthe uprights n are formed with inwardly-projecting guards a to hold thebar of clay against lateral deflection or buckling, which mightotherwise carry the same against the table-supporting rollers 70. Theuprights a also hold the under or bottom ply of the endless table to thelower tracks by extending down beside the outer vertical edges of saidtracks, while the guards 12/ extend under the bottom rails and preventany possible excessive upward movement of the under ply-from saidtracks.

The cutting-reel is mounted above the rea or discharge end of the topply of the endless traveling table and in the upwardly-extended ends ofthe rear uprights b. 0 is the shaft of the reel, at its ends mounted tofreely rotate in the uprights b. In the example shown this shaft carriesfour equally-spaced sets of radial arms p, which are provided with thebrick-cutting wires (1 and the guide-wheels r. Diametrically oppositesets of arms 1 are connected together to form, in effect, diametrical orapproximately diametrical frames, so that the four sets of arms p formtwo frames crossing each other at right angles. Each set of arms 1) isformed by a U-shaped bar, and the opposite U -shaped bars are rigidlysecured together by the connectinglinks 3), usually two in number,-passing diametrically through the shaft 0, which is formed withdiametrical openings or passages for that purpose and through which thelinks p are free to slide. sufficient length to permit the diametricalmovement necessary for each diametrical frame, and the movement of eachsaid frame is limited by the engagement of the transverse portions ofthe U-shaped bars with the shaft 0 of the reel.

The outer end of each arm 2 is provided with a transverse eye 7)",receiving the stud on which the guide-wheel 0' is confined to rotate,said wheels being located at the inner sides of said arms. The fasteningand holding devices for the cutting-wires (1 pass through said studs onwhich the guide-wheels are mounted about as shown and described inUnited States Patent No. 719,722, issued to me February 3, 1903.

The two radially or diametrically movable frames, each carrying twocutting-wires and two pairs of guide-rollers, are movable independentlyof each other through the reel-shaft.

Suitable means are provided to limit or con- The links are of trol thesliding or radial movement of each cutting-wire frame of the reel withrespect to the movement of each section or plate of the endless table.As at present advised I do not wish to limit myself to any specificmeans for this purpose in so far asother features of my invention areconcerned, but as an advantageous means for this purpose show the curvedcams or guides s rigidly secured to the inner faces of the extendedupper ends of the rear uprights Z) and arranged to be engaged by thelateral projections 25 from the arms 7) of the cutting-wire frames ofthe reel. These projections t' are preferably provided withantifriction-rollers, and each arm p is provided with one projectionextending horizontally and outwardly therefrom at a point'between itsends. The guides s are so arranged that as the reel revolves theprojections 25 of a downwardly and rearwardly moving pair of arms 2 Willmove onto the front ends of said guides s and travel along the uppersurfaces thereof, thereby holding the cutting-wire frame of which saidarms form a part from dropping to their limit of downward movement untilthe projections t pass or drop from the rear ends of said guides s,whereupon the frame isfree to slide or drop radially to its limit ofdownward movement.

The bar of clay rests longitudinally on the long flat surface formed bythe top ply of the endless table and between the guards a of theuprights of the sections of said table. The table is constantly movedaround by the advancing bar of clay, the sections'of the table movingrearwardly along the top tracks to the rear or discharge end, where eachplate or section tilts downwardly from the horizontal position, with itssupporting-rollers following downwardly around the curved tracks of therear ends g, and from thence passing downwardly and forwardly to therear ends of the lower tracks a with the plates reversed. At the frontor receiving end of the machine the plates pass forwardly and upwardlyfrom the lower horizontal tracks to the front ends g, and the rollers ofthe plates pass upwardly along the curved -tracks of said front ends tothe front ends of'the horizontal top rails. As each plate of the tableadvances to the cutting-reel the uprights a of said plate engage a pairof guide rollers or wheels 0', and thereby rotate the reel carrying thecutting-wire down through the bar of clay in the vertical plane of themeeting edges between said plate and the next plate to the rear in thedirection of movement of the table. The projections t of the armscarrying said wire by resting on the guides s uphold the frame carryingsaid wire until the said projections slip off the rear ends of theguides, which movement does not take place until the plate has assumedthe tilted position on the tracks of ends g and opened the space toreceive the cutting-wire between the ends of the plates where the claybar has just been cut.

As soon as the said two plates separate at their ends, the brick havingbeen completely severed from the bar, the reel-frame drops down,carrying the cutting-wire down into said space between the ends of theplates and out of contact with the front end of the clay bar, andthereby preventing the cutting-wires damaging the ends of the bricks.The reel is kept in rotation by the advancing uprights of the endlesstable, as described in my hereinbeforementioned patent.

It is evident that various changes and modifications might be resortedto in the forms, constructions, and arrangements of the parts describedWithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination, aframe having longitudinal upper tracks, longitudinal lower tracks,

and curved vertically-arranged end tracks between the upper and lowertracks, an endless traveling table comprising plates hinged together andarranged end to end, each plate provided with a pair ofsupporting-wheels arranged at the side edges thereof and between and.not projecting beyond the ends thereof, said wheels supporting thetable on said upper and lower tracks and around said curved tracks, anda rotary cutting-reel having cutting-wires arranged to pass down betweenthe ends of the plates.

2. In combination, a frame comprising longitudinal lowersupporting-tracks, parallel sides having straight horizontal top edgesand terminating in the semicircular vertical end pieces forming curvedtracks, an endless traveling table comprising plates hinged together andeach provided with a pair of supportingrollers traveling on said tracksand on the top edges of said sides, the rollers projecting above andbelow the plates.

3. A brick-cutter comprising horizontal upper and lower and upwardly-eurved end tracks, an endless traveling table entirely supported by andon said tracks and having supporting-rollers traveling on the tracks,and a cutting-reel, said table comprising pivotallyjoined plates, eachplate having side-edge recesses, the supporting-rollers being arrangedin said recesses andprojecting above and below the plates.

4. A brick-cutter comprising an endless traveling table composed oflooselyjoined plates, each plate having a pair of supporting-rollersarranged just in advance of its rear end and projecting above and belowthe same, tracks on which said rollers travel and which entirelysupportthc table, and cutting means.

5. In combination, a frame provided with upper, lower and curved endtracks, an endless traveling table comprising plates arranged end to endand pivotally united, each plate provided witha pair ofsupporting-rollers traveling on said tracks and arranged at the sideedges of the plate and projecting above and below the same, and with apair of uprights extending upwardly beyond the side edges of the plate,and a rotary cutting-reel comprising arms carrying the cutting-wires andprovided with guide-wheels arranged to be engaged by said uprights, saidwheels arranged to move down beside the outer faces of said rollers.

6. In combination, asupporting-frame having tracks, an endless travelingtable forming upper and lower plies and vertically-disposed curved endplies in traveling around said frame, said table composed of plates,means pivotally joining the plates end to end, each plate provided witha pair of supportingrollers arranged between its ends and mounted onsaid means, and cutting means.

7. In combination, asuprmrting-framehaving horizontal upper and lowertracks and connecting curved end tracks, an endless traveling tablecomposed of loosely-joined plates, each plate having a pair ofsupportingrollers arranged at its side edges and projecting above andbelow the same and traveling on said tracks, and a rotary cutting-reelactuated by said table.

8. In combination, asupporting-frame having tracks, an endless travelingtable comprising plates, hinges loosely connecting said plates andarranged beneath the same and with the hinge-pivots out of line with themeeting or adjacent ends of the plates, said table provided withsupporting-rollers moving on said tracks, and cutting means.

9. In combination, a supporting-frame having tracks, brick-cuttingmeans, and an endless traveling table comprising plates, hinges looselyconnecting the same, and supportingrollers mounted on the hinge-pivots,said hinge-pivots being arranged in advance of the rear ends of theplates.

10. In combination, a supporting-frame having tracks, cutting means, andan endless traveling table comprising plates, hinges loosely joining theplates end to end, each hinge comprising leaves secured to the underfaces of the plates and a pivot, said hinges so arranged that the pivotsare beneath the under faces of the plates and in advance of the rearedges thereof, and supporting-rollers.

11. In combination, a supporting-frame, a rotary cutting-reel, and anendless traveling table comprising loosely-joined plates, each platehaving a U-shaped bar secured thereto with upwardly-projecting endsforming reeloperating uprights, substantially as described.

12. In con'ibination, a supporting-frame, a rotary brick-cutting reel,and an endless table comprising loosely connected plates, each plateprovided with a U-shapcd metal bar secured thereto withupwardly-projecting ends forming reel-operating uprights, the transverseportions of the U-shapcd bars deflected laterally and secured across theunder faces of the plates.

13. In combination, a supporting-frame, a rotary brick-cutting reel, andan endless travcling table comprising loosely-joined plates havingsupporting-rollers and side reel-operating uprights provided withinwardly-projecting guards, substantially as described.

14. In combination, a supporting frame having tracks, a rotarycutting-reel, and an endless traveling table comprising looselyjoinedplates, hinges connecting the plates end to end, each plate havingsupporting-rollers arranged near the rear end thereof and in advance ofthe rear edges thereof.

15. A brick-cutter reel comprising a crossshaft having diametrical guideopenings therethrough and diametrically-arranged sliding frames providedwith the guide-wheels and cutting-wires, said frames passing andslidable through the shaft and confined therein.

16. A brick-cutter comprising the rotary reel consisting essentially ofa single crossshaft, U-shaped bars provided at their outer ends withguide-wheels and cutting-wires, links rigid with and connecting oppositebars and passing loosely diametrically through intermediate portions ofsaid shaft.

17. In combination, aframe,an endless traveling table comprisingloosely-joined sections provided With reel-operating uprights, a rotarycutting-reel comprising movable sections carrying cutting-Wires andguide-wheels, and guides carried by said frame and controlling thedownward movement of each movable sec tion.

18. In combination, aframe,an endless traveling table comprisingloosely-joined sections provided with reel-operating portions, a rotarycutting-reel comprising movable sections provided with cutting-Wires andlateral projections, and fixed guides engaging said projections touphold said movable sections during portions of the strokes thereof.

19. In combination, a frame comprising uprights, an endless travelingtable, a cross-shaft arranged horizontally and transversely above saidtable and extending between and at its ends mounted in said uprights,and a diametrically-sliding frame at its opposite ends provided with thecutting-wires, said frame at its central portion arranged diametricallyof the central portion of said shaft and loosely confined thereto topositively rotate therewith and independently move diametricallythereof.

20. In combination, a frame com prising uprights, a cutting-reel carriedby said uprights and comprising movable frames provided with the cuttingdevices, curved guides carried by said uprights and engaging portions ofsaid frames at predetermined portions of the path of movement thereofduring the rotation of the reel, a table traveling under said reel, and

means for rotating the reel.

21. In combination, a frame, a traveling table, a rotary cutting-reelarranged transversely above the same and comprisingindependently-movable members provided with the cutting-wires, a guidingdevice carried by said frame and engaging each member during a portionof its stroke to carry the cuttingwire thereof in an eccentric path, andmeans uprights of the sections forming the lower ply of the table, and acutting-reel arranged above the tabl Y 23. In combination, a frame,acutting-reel, an endless traveling table, means to support the same toform the horizontal top ply, said table comprising plates arranged endto end, and hinges loosely connecting said plates, each hinge comprisinga leaf secured to one plate and extending across the adjoining ends ofthe two plates to a point between the ends of the adjacent plate and aleaf secured to an intermediate portion of said adjacent plate with thehinge-pivot intermediate the length of said adjacent plate.

In testimony whereof I am): my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BYRON ERB BEGHTEL.

Witnesses:

JAMES (J. HAIGHT, JAooB MAURER.

